Armored electric cable



0. A. FREDERICKSON ARMORED ELECTRIC CABLE Filed Dec. 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Q14 afisdwdm I" BY f b M ATTORNEY Oct. 9, 1928. 1,687,013

0. A. FREDERICKSON ARMORED ELEC 'I'R I G CABLE Filed Dec. 7, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet P IN l/ENTOE ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 9, 1928,

UNITED STATES 1,687,013 PATENT OFFICE.

OTTO A. IBEDIERICKSON, O]? WETHEBSFIELD, GONNEGIIGUT, ABSIGNOB To NATIONAL ELECTRIC PRODUCTS CORPORATION, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, A 003- POBATION OI DELAWARE.

ANMOBED ELECTRIC Application filed heeember 1, 1921. Serial :0. aaaasa This invention relates to improvements in the construction of electric conductors having a metallic outer sheath. or jacket, commonly known as armored cables? or conductors,

Cables of this general character ordinarily consist of two or more insulated conductors which are enclosed in an interlocked covering of insulated material, such as braided or woven fabric, and about which the spirally 1o wound metallic jacket or sheath is placed, but such armored cables are open to many serious objections.

In the installation of such armored cables as heretofore made the outer metallic jacket or sheath is cut oil some distance from the end of the enclosed conductors, in order to makeattachments of the conductors to electric fixtui es, and where the conductor or conductors have as heretofore been covered by interlocked strands, such for instance as woven or braided fabric, it has been further necessary after cutting the metallic sheath, to run a sharp instrument longitudinally of the exposed portions of the conductors to the end of the metallic sheath to sever the interlocked material longitudinally, and then cut the interlocked material transversely. These cutting operations are likely to injure the insulation upon the conductor wires, thus increasing the danger of short circuits. It has likewise been customary in cutting the metallic sheath to cut it transversely about the conductors with a shar instrument which itself is likely to again injure the insulation, and in any event, the cut end portion of the metallic sheath will present burrs or sharp edges which are especially liable to penetrate or cut into the insulation, and thereby form short circuit. In attempts to remedy this objectionable 4o condition in the use of metallic armored l cables, it has been customary heretofore to place an exterior metal sleeve or ferrule about the end of the metallic sheath. Such exterior ferrules or sleeves, however, are'impractical because the metallic sheaths themselves vary in size and spirally, and unless. the ferrule or sleeve was properly connected to the threaded or spiral portion of the outer sheath it was liable to be displaced, with the result that defective electrical or. mechanical connection resulted. This defective condition has been the cause of much trouble and annoyance, but in addition thereto the exterior ferrule or sleeve as heretofore applied neces sarily increased the diameterof the armored cable or sheath, so that the increased diameter due to the ferrule or sleeve prevents the enlarged end of the armored cable from entering the usual electrical fittings on the market, and either special fittings with proper openings had to be provided, or, as was more usually the case, they were dispensed with altogether.

An important feature of the present invention, therefore, consists of an insulated conductor or conductors which is, or are, wound with stripped material of an insulatin fibrous nature, and associated 'with the en of the cut metallic sheath or armor, is a sleeve or ferrule which is interposed between the insulated conductor or conductors and the interior of the metallic sheath, whereby all cutting action by the sharp edges or burrs formed in serving the metallic sheath or armor is avoided.

Where the insulating fibrous material is laid spirally about the conductor or conductors, it is readil unwound from the exposed portion or en s of the conductors when the metallic sheath has been cut, and such so removal is readily accomplished by an un-, winding action which may be extended down into the metallic sheath itself, thereby providing suflicient space for the ready insertion of the interior bushing or sleeve, as hereinbefore referred to. By this'construction it will be evident at once that the sharp edges and burrs at the end of the cut oif armored or metallic sheath are prevented from injuring the insulation on the conductor or conductors.

In the preferred form of the invention in the respects above noted the bushing is formed of insulating material such as fibre, bakelite or the like, so that even should injury occur to the insulation of the conductor or conductors, the bushing will itself insulate the conductors from the metallic outer sheath.

Another important feature of thepresent invention consists in forming the bushing as a split tubular structure which normally has its adjacent longitudinally split edges in separated relation, so that the bus may be applied about the conductor or con uctors at a point adjacent the end of the cut ofi' metallic armor or sheath and by pinching it or contacting its diameter it may be readily inserted between the inner surface of the metallic armor or sheath and the insulated conductor or conductors. Thus the objections heretofore existing in the old form of metallic armored or sheathed cables or conductors are readily overcome, short circuits absolutely prevented between the metallic sheath and enclosed conductor or conductors, and the diameter of the armored cable itself is not increased, so that it lends itself at once to direct application to the electrical fittings now in general use.

The use of a spirally wound insulating coverin about the covered conductors, in place 0 the braided or woven outer coverings pro osed heretofore, has a further advantage in t at the s irally wound fibrous strip may be formed of material that is sufliciently compressible to constitute a cushion that fits snu 1y within the armored sheath or jacket, to t ereby prevent sliding movement ofthe covered conductors within the armored sheath, whereby chafing of the covering against the inner walls of the metal sheath is prevented. Heretofore the insulating covering lying next to the armored sheath has been braided or woven, but it is diflicult to prevent such braided or woven covering from sliding back and forth within the armored outer sheath with a chafing action; and to prevent this it has been customary to apply a coating of paraflin to the outer covering to fill or swell the same, but since paraflin possesses lubricating pro erties it will not en tirely prevent the sli ing movement of the covered conductors within the metal sheath. As above pointed out relative movement between the conductors and armored sheath is readily prevented, in accordance with the present invention, b forming the outer in sulating covering 0 a cushioning material so that the coils of the armored sheath may sink sufiiciently into the cushioning material to lock the parts against relative movement.

The use of an outer covering which is formed of a soft or compressible material wound spirally about the covered conductors.

has a further advantage in that if the adjacent coils of the insulatin material are wound close together so that t eir edges overlap, the overlapping ed es will sink into each otherrto form a smoot tight joint between the adjacent coils. As a result of thwe tight joints it will be practically impossible for the metal slivers which are sometimes formed u n the edges of the spirally wound strips 0 the armor to work through this outer coverin and short circuit the conductors, wherei as w en the outer covering is woven or braided as heretofore, it is not difficult for these metal slivers to enter the interstices between the interbraided or interwoven strands.

The aboveand other features of the invention will be best understood from the following description when read in connection with the accompanying drawings illustrating good practical forms of the invention.

In the drawings Fig. 1 is a side elevation of an armored cable constructed in accordance with the present invention, the covered conductors being shown as extending beyond the end of the armor;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged view similar toFig. 1, part of the armor being shown in section;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view through the armored cable;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of an expansion bushing to be described;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view showing the bushing mounted inside of the armor of the cable;

Fig. 6 is a side elevation of a modified construction showing an armored cable having a single insulated conductor; and

Fig. 7 is a side elevation of a further modificd armored cable construction.

In the drawings the armored cable is shown as provided with either one or two insulated electric conductors but it will be understood that the features of the present invention may also be employed in connection with armored cables having more than two insulated conductors.

In Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 5 of the drawings each electric conductor 10 is shown as having the usual form of insulation consisting of a rubber jacket 11 over which is provided a cover ing of braid 12, and about the two covered conductors thus formed is wound a novel protecting covering 13 of fibrous material that serves to unite the conductors and protect them from the outer metallic jacket or sheath 14.

The present invention is not concerned with the articular construction of the outer metallic acket 14, and this jacket may be formed of a spirally wound metal strip in any well known or preferred manner.

While the spirally wound insulating covering 13 may be formed of practically any fibrous material that is stron and durable, it is found that excellent resu ts are secured by forming the covering 13 of strips of thin flexible paper 15 that is crumpled transversely into a soft rounded strand as shown. The paper strips 15 may be untwisted, or if desired, they may have a slight twist, but it is preferable that the twist be not great enough to render the paper hard and noncompressiblc. The covering 13 is shown as formed of two spirally wound strips 15, but a greater or smaller number of strips may be employed.

The spiral coils of the strips 15 are preferably laid sufiiciently close together to cause their adjacent edges to overlap as at 16, and since the strips forming the coils are relatively soft, their overlapping edges will sink into each other to form a smooth tight joint as shown. As a result of this construction it is practically impossible for the metal slivers such as 17 that are accidentally formed upon the edges of the metal strip, to enter the tigiitly closed joint 16.

he strip of metal forming the armored acket 14 is preferably wound sufliciently tight about the covering 13 to cause the metal 0011s to sink slightly into the surface of the cushioning material 13 to thereby lock the covered conductors against sliding movement within the armored acket.

As above stated an important feature of the present invention resides in means for preventin the covering for the conductors 10 from eing out or chafed by the sharp edges which are necessarily formed at the end of the armored jacket 14 when the jacket is cut transversely. This is accomplished by providing a bushing or sleeve 18 which is referably cut longitudinally as shown in ig. 4 so that the sleeve may be 0 ened out sufliciently to permit its inscrtion laterally over the covered conductors. The bushing may be made of spring metal 1f desired, but is preferably made of insulat- 7 ing material, and may be compressed between the fingers,as will be apparent from Fig. 4 to facilitate the insertion of the bushing within the end of the armor 14.

Before the bushing 18 may be inserted in the armored sheath it is necessary to provide a clearance space for the bushing, but this is readily done by, drawing several coils of the fibrous material 15 out of the space between the covered conductors 12 and metal sheath 14 as will be apparent from Fig. 2, whereupon the expansion bushing may be readily inserted to its final position in which it is shown in Fig. 5. The expanding action of the bushing will-hold it in place in the armored sheath, and the bushing is preferably provided with a flange 19 at its outer end that will abut against the end of the armored sheath.

The bushing 18 is not only cas to insert in the end of the armored sheath, ut it provides a smooth surface for the covered conductors and eliminates any chance of the insulation. upon the conductors being injured b the edges a the end of the armored sheath.

urthermore, it constitutes a reenforcing sleeve or support for the inner wall of the metal sheath. This will facilitate the securin of a clamp or other form of attachment tig tly about the outer end of the reenforced armor preparatory to securing the armor to the cas ng of an outlet box.

The insulating covering 12 and 13 may be treated with any of the usual moisture proof- (ill ing compounds, and if desired a ground wire 20 may be laid alongside the covered conductors 12 so that it is enclosed and rotected the .covering 13. This groan wire is highly desirable as it forms a dependable round between the outlet boxes to which he conductors may be connected, but such and wire is not claimed herein as it has en made the subject matter of a separate ap lication filed by me.

he modified construction shown in Fig. 6 differs from the construction shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 5 only in that in Fig. 6 the protecting coverin 13 is wound about a single insu ated con uctor 12, and the metallic jacket 14 is placed about this sin le conductor, whereas in Fi 1' 2, 3 and 5 t e coverin 13 surrounds an unites two insulated con uctors which are protected by the armor 14. In the modified construction of Fig. 7 each insulated conductor is provided with a protecting coverin 13 which may be removed without disturbing the covering 13 upon the other conductor, and these two conductors are enclosed in the metallic jacket 14. In

each of the constructions shown and de;

scribed several coils of the protecting material 15 may be pulled out from the interior of the armored jacket 14 to form a clearance space for the bushin 18.

In the armored cab es employed heretofore it has been customary to provide a braided or woven jacket over the two or more covered insulated conductorsand then apply the armored covering directly over the raided or woven jacket in relatively snug engagement with the bracket. There is therefore not sufficient room between the metal covering and outcr jacket of the armored cables constructed heretofore to receive a bushing 18, and it is practically impossible to remove a sufficient amount of the braided or woven acket from the interior of the armored covering to form a sufficient clearance space to receive the bushin 18.

This di culty is entirely overcome by employing the construction of the present invention, since the spirally wound covering 13 may be easily stripped off of the conductors 12 to produce the desired clearance for a bushing 18. The use of a s irally wound covering 13 has the further a vantage in that it is much easier for the wireman to remove than braid, since he need simply unwind the former while he must cut the latter. Furthermore, the use of a spirally wound outer covering which the wireman canreadily unwind wrthoutanv cutting operation avoids injury to the underlying insulation, whereas when a braided outer covering is used the underlying insulation is frequently injured by the wireman as he cuts away the outer braided coverin and any injury to the underlying insu ation necessarily increases the fire hazard.

What is claimed is:

1. An armored electric conductor comprising, an insulated wire, a protecting covering of insulating material surrounding the insulated wire, a metallic sheath or jacket enclosing the protecting covering and insulated wire, and a bushing interposed between the insulated wire and the metallic sheath or jacket ing, an insulated wire, a protecting covering of insulating material surrounding the insulated wire, a metallic sheath enclosing said covering and insulated wire, and a split bush ing interposed between the insulate wire and the metallic sheath to protect the wire insulation from the edge formed at the end of the metallic sheath.

4. An armored electric conductor com rising, an insulated wire, a protecting covering of insulating material wrapped around the insulated wire, a metallic sheath enclosing said covering and insulated wire, a bushing interposed between the insulated wire and the inetallic sheath to protect the wire insulation from the edge formed at the end of the metallic sheath, and a flange at the outer end of the bushing adapted to abut against the end of the metallic sheath.

5."An armored electric cable comprising, insulated electric conductors laid side by side, a protecting coveringof insulating material surrounding the insulated conductors, a metallic sheath enclosing said protecting covering and conductors, and a bushing interposed between the insulated conductors and the metallic sheath to protect the insulation of the conductors from the edge formed at the end of the metallic sheath.

6. An armored electric cable comprising, insulated electric conductors laid side by side, a protecting covering of insulating material surrounding and uniting the insulated conductors, a spirally wound metallic sheath enclosing said protecting covering and conductors, and a bushing-interposed between the insulated conductors and metallic sheath to protect the insulation of the conductors from the edge formed at the end of the metallic sheath.

7. An armored electric conductor comprising, an insulated wire, a metallic sheath en closing the insulated wire, a protecting covering for the insulated wire comprising a strip of insulating material interposed between the insulated wire and metallic sheath and adapted for ready removal from the interior of the end portion of the metallic sheath to provide a clcarancespace between the sheath and in sulated wire, and a protecting bushing mounted in said clearance space between the interior of the end portion of the metallic sheath and the insulated wire.

8. An armored electric conductor comprising, an insulated wire, a metallic sheath enclosing the insulated wire, a protecting covering for the wire comprising a strip of fibrous material laid spirally about the covered wire beneath the metallic sheath and constructed so that one or more coils may be stripped off of the covered wire from under the metallic sheath, and a bushing adapted to be inserted within an end of the metallic sheath in the clearance space formed by removing one or more coils of said fibrous material.

9. An armored electric cable comprising, insulated electric conductors laid'side by side, a protecting covering surrounding the insulated conductors and formed of insulating material wound about the conductors, a metallic outer sheath enclosing the insulated con.-

ductors and protecting covering, aprotecting bushing constructed to be inserted within an end portion of the metallic sheath, and the covering of insulating material being formed so that it may be pulled out of the end ortion of the metallic sheath for a suflicient istance to form a clearance space for said bushing.

10. An armored electric cable com rising, insulated electric conductors laid sideby side, an armored outer sheath formed of a metal strip wound spirally about the conductors, a protecting covering surrounding and uniting the covered conductors and formed of insulating material laid in coils about the in-- sulated conductors beneath the armored sheath so that one or more coils may be removed from the interior of the end portion of the armored sheath to form a bushin receiving clearance space, and a protecting liushing adapted to be inserted in said clearancespace between the armored sheath and conductors and provided with a flange adapted to abut against the end of the armored sheath. 7

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

OTTO A. FREDERICKSON.

d H DISCLAIMER 1,687,013.0tto A. Fi-edericlcsoa, Wethersfield, ,Conn. Anuoann ELscrmc-Carnn.

Patent dated October 9,, 1-928. Disclaimer filed December 8, 19 32, by the.

patentee, the assignee, National Electric Products Corporation, acqmescmg. Hereby enters this disclaimer to that part of the claim in said Letters Patent which is in the following words, to wit: claims numbered 1, 3, 4, 5, and 6, said claims reading as follows:

1. An armored electric conductor comprising, an insulated wire, a protest covering of msulating material surrounding the insulated wire, a metallic sheath or 'acket enclosing the protecting covering and insulated wire, and a bushing interposed tween the insulated wire and the metallic sheath or jacket to protect the insulation from the edge formed at the end of the metallic sheath or jacket.

3. An armored electric conductor comprising, an insulated wire, amnrirotmetinlgl covering of insulating material surrounding the insulated wire, 0. met 'c sheat encl said cove and insulated wire, and asplit bushing interposed between the ins ated wire an the met-allicsheath to protect the wire insulation from the edge formed at the end of the metallicv sheath.

4. An armored electric conductor comp an insulated wire, a l1filrotecting coveringof insulating material wrapped around t e insulated wire, a met 'c sheath enclosing said covering and insulated wire, a 'bushi interposed between the insu lated wire and the metallic sheath to protect the wire insulation from the edge formed at the end of the metallic sheath, and a' flange at the outer end of the bushing adapted to abut against the end of the metallic sheath.

"5. An armored electric cable comprising, insulated electric conductors laid side by side, a protecting covering of insulating material surrounding the insulated condoctors, a metallic sheath enclosing said protecting covering conductors, and a bushing interposed between the insulated conductorsand the metallic sheath to protect the insulation of the conductors from the edge formed-at the end of the metallic sheath.

56. An armored electric cable comprising, insulated electric conductors laid side by side, a protecting cover-in of insulatingmaterial surrounding uniting the insulated conductors, a spira y wound metallic sheath encl said protecting v covering and conductors, and a bushing interposed between the insulated conductors and metallic sheath to protect the insulation of the conductors from the edge formed at the end of the metallic sheath.

[Qflic'ial Gazette January 3, 1933] v 

